United Agenda for Children to shepherd formation of action plans

Published: Friday, May 17, 2013 at 11:46 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, May 17, 2013 at 11:46 a.m.

More than 25 percent of children in Henderson County live in poverty. More than half the children in Henderson County schools receive free or reduced-price lunches, and 231 children in those schools have been identified as homeless.

McCray Benson, president of the Community Foundation of Henderson County, presented these sobering facts at a breakfast Friday sponsored by Henderson County United Agenda for Children, spearheaded by the Children and Family Resource Center and the Community Foundation.

In light of those needs, Elisha Freeman, director of the Children and Family Resource Center, rolled out “5 Promises” related to issues affecting children. The promises will be the foundation for the second “Speak out for Kids Engagement” next spring.

Those five promises — caring adults, safe places, a healthy start, effective education, and opportunities to serve — are designed to engage citizens in discussions that will result in actions to help the children in Henderson County. The promises were determined by examining data over the past six years.

“Being in poverty means everything is more complicated,” Benson told the group of business, government and nonprofit leaders attending the breakfast.

And that’s the reason United Agenda for Children was organized in 2007, Freeman said. The group plans to bring together influential leaders in the community to brainstorm and enact a plan to implement changes based on the promises introduced on Friday.

County commissioners asked the Children and Family Resource Center to compile some statistics around children in 2007, and that’s what got the ball rolling.

In that initial effort, seven goals that were identified. Some of those goals, such as increasing the number of school nurses, have seen progress. Additional progress going forward will require the help of the leaders who attended the presentation on Friday, Freeman said.

“Your leadership will make it happen,” Freeman told the crowd. “When we invest in children, we invest in the economic health of our entire community.”

After the presentation, there was a question-and-answer session where people spoke about health concerns, safety concerns and legislative concerns related to children in the county.

In the end, Freeman was pleased to see leaders engage in a dialogue about children’s needs.

<p>More than 25 percent of children in Henderson County live in poverty. More than half the children in Henderson County schools receive free or reduced-price lunches, and 231 children in those schools have been identified as homeless.</p><p>McCray Benson, president of the Community Foundation of Henderson County, presented these sobering facts at a breakfast Friday sponsored by Henderson County United Agenda for Children, spearheaded by the Children and Family Resource Center and the Community Foundation.</p><p>In light of those needs, Elisha Freeman, director of the Children and Family Resource Center, rolled out “5 Promises” related to issues affecting children. The promises will be the foundation for the second “Speak out for Kids Engagement” next spring.</p><p>Those five promises — caring adults, safe places, a healthy start, effective education, and opportunities to serve — are designed to engage citizens in discussions that will result in actions to help the children in Henderson County. The promises were determined by examining data over the past six years.</p><p>“Being in poverty means everything is more complicated,” Benson told the group of business, government and nonprofit leaders attending the breakfast.</p><p>And that's the reason United Agenda for Children was organized in 2007, Freeman said. The group plans to bring together influential leaders in the community to brainstorm and enact a plan to implement changes based on the promises introduced on Friday.</p><p>County commissioners asked the Children and Family Resource Center to compile some statistics around children in 2007, and that's what got the ball rolling.</p><p>In that initial effort, seven goals that were identified. Some of those goals, such as increasing the number of school nurses, have seen progress. Additional progress going forward will require the help of the leaders who attended the presentation on Friday, Freeman said.</p><p>“Your leadership will make it happen,” Freeman told the crowd. “When we invest in children, we invest in the economic health of our entire community.”</p><p>After the presentation, there was a question-and-answer session where people spoke about health concerns, safety concerns and legislative concerns related to children in the county.</p><p>In the end, Freeman was pleased to see leaders engage in a dialogue about children's needs.</p><p>“I feel inspired by that and hopeful,” she said.</p><p>Reach Millwood at 828-694-7881 or at joey.millwood@blueridgenow.com.</p>